FRISCO - Just as they - and we - said they would, the Dallas Cowboys went exploring right around the time of the NFL Draft, all part of an acknowledgement that that their Dak Prescott-led offense needed a boost in firepower.
That exploration led to a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers that brought George Pickens to The Star.
But another AFC North standout pass-catcher was also on Dallas' radar ... and that player is now acknowledging that fact.
As it turns out, wide receiver Rashod Bateman signed a three-year contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens last month, but that happened only after he was dangled in trade talks with Dallas.
We knew all along about Pickens. We heard the whispers about Bateman.
And while the former player is delighted at having moved from the AFC North, the latter player - confirming that he was made aware of Dallas' interest - seems delighted at staying with the Ravens.
Bateman is now expressing how "thankful" he is to be staying following the offer from GM Eric DeCosta to forge a contract to remain with the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens.
“That’s the first thing I told him: I don’t want to go anywhere else. ‘I know you’ve got a lot of stuff to work through and we’ll figure it out when we figure it out,’” Bateman said, via TheAthletic.com. “It took time, but ... To be a priority for him in that way is important. He shows he values me.”
In the end?
The Cowboys got their man in Pickens. And the Ravens kept theirs in Bateman.